“My opinion is, that power should be distrusted, in whatever hands it is placed.”
(Sir William Jones, 1746-1794)
John Lentell
Augsut 12th, 1968
Month: March 2010
Tuesday’s Piece
“Oh Happiness! our being’s end and aim,
Good, Pleasure, Ease, Content! whate’er thy name,
That something still which prompts th’ eternal sigh,
For which we bear to live, or dare to die.”
(Alexander Pope, 1688-1744)
John Lentell
August 11th, 1968
Monday’s Piece
“So many men, so many opinions: his own a law to each.”
(Terence, 184-159 BC)
John Lentell
August 9th, 1968
Sunday’s Piece
I once asked a Mayor of Salisbury what was being done about ‘the dust problem’ and drew his attention to sidewalks in the centre of Salisbury which have remained ‘unsurfaced’ throughout my 17 years here, giving rise to all manner of problems, not least concerning health, and in front of an intelligent and large crowd he had the nerve to say “what dust problem?”. Perhaps dust is the wrong word? Maybe it should just be good old plain dirt. Anyway, for what one opinion is worth, I think it is costing us, one way or another, a lot of money.
John Lentell
August 8th, 1968
Saturday’s Piece
“All love at first, like generous wine,
Ferments and frets until ’tis fine;
But when ’tis settled on the lee,
And from th’ impurer matter free,
Becomes the richer still the older,
And proves the pleasanter the colder.”
(Samuel Butler, 1612-1680)
John Lentell
August 7th, 1968
Friday’s Piece
“For when the One Great Scorer comes
To write against your name,
He marks – not that you won or lost –
But how you played the game.”
(Grantland Rice, 1880-1954)
John Lentell
August 6th, 1968
Thursday’s Piece
“It haint no use to grumble and complane
Its jest as cheap and easy to rejoice.”
(James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916)
John Lentell
August 5th, 1968
Wednesday’s Piece
If you want to know if your M.P. is paying for his keep and which M.P.’s are worthy of their seat – subscribe to ‘Hansard’ (the official report of Parliamentary Debates). It is only 15/-d per annum (post free) – cheaper than any other publication known to me! I often ponder why there has never been a campaign to promote the sale of it?
John Lentell
August 4th, 1968
Tuesday’s Piece
The other night, from cares exempt,
I slept – and what d’you think I dreamt?
I dreamt that somehow I had come
To dwell in Topsy-Turveydom! –
Where vice is virtue – virtue, vice:
Where nice is nasty – nasty, nice:
When right is wrong and wrong is right –
Where white is black and black is white.
(Gilbert – My Dreams)
John Lentell
August 3rd, 1968
Monday’s Personal Piece
“One single grateful thought raised to heaven is a perfect prayer.”
Lessing, 1729 – 1781
John Lentell – P.O. Box 2679, Salisbury.
March 18th, 1968
Sunday’s Personal Piece
“Our constancy t’ our principles
In time will wear out all things else.”
John Lentell – P.O. Box 2679, Salisbury
March 17th, 1968
Saturday’s Personal Piece
I wonder how many people know that they can receive ‘HANSARD’ (the official record of Parliamentary proceedings and debates) through the post for only 15/-d per year? It works out at only 2d or 3d per copy and is wonderful value at that price. You could resell it at a handsome profit!
John Lentell – P.O. Box 2679, Salisbury
March 16th, 1968
Friday’s Personal Piece
Tax relief in respect of interest payable on building society loans would be a worthwhile incentive to young Rhodesians to build or buy dwelling houses and a great attraction to prospective settlers.
John Lentell – P.O. Box 2679, Salisbury.
March 15th, 1968
Thursday’s Personal Piece
“Hail, Barum’s brass-faced bard!
Thou, who dost wither Scriblings with a “bah!”
Turning their wits to doors, – like some-one his Papa –
What name hast thou? great Ass? nay, that I must discard;
The modest brute so called, would blush for shjame
At his own namesake, for thou hast no tail!
No, nothing follows thee, but – a bad name!”
John Lentell of Hunter’s Lodge
February 26th, 1968
Wednesday’s Personal Piece
I wouldn’t be a City Councillor (tho’ I was – believe it or not – once asked) for all the China tea in Salisbury. So full marks to those – whatever their political opinions – who are. I just couldn’t resist this one:-
“Shall Barum always crouch beneath
Some Boroughmonger’s rod?
Or shall we still subservient be
To petty tyrants’ nod?
.
Indignantly forbit it all,
Forbid it, hearts so true,
And shew us, at your country’s call,
What Barumites can do.”
John Lentell of Hunter’s Lodge
February 25th, 1968
Tuesday’s Personal Piece
“Britons be firm! – nor let corruption sly
Twine round your Heart indissoluble chains
Determined, hold
Your independence; for, that once destroyed,
Unfounded, wisdom is a morning dream.”
John Lentell of Hunter’s Lodge.
February 24th, 1968
Monday’s Personal Piece
“O say not Tom will e’er be bought
With Truth’s alluring treasure;
And say not Tom will e’er be caught
With any liberal measure;
For aye with venom’d tooth he gnaws
Worth, virtue, truth – and never
Ought in his soul save falsehood glows –
He lies, and lies for ever.
.
O say not Tommy’s tales are fair,
He’ll fib as he is able;
That black is white he’ll stoutly swear,
And then that white is sable.
And falsehood’s love that first could worm
His breast, will leave it never;
No noble motive e’er can charm –
He lies, and lies for ever.
John Lentell of Hunter’s Lodge.
February 23rd, 1968
Sunday’s Personal Piece
“Our constancy t’ our principles
In time will wear out all things else.”
John Lentell of Hunter’s Lodge
February 22nd, 1968
Saturday’s Personal Piece
“Bah!” as would say the sapient ‘Advertiser,’ –
When will old Sarum’s silly ones grow wiser?
John Lentell of Hunter’s Lodge
February 21st, 1968
Friday’s Personal Piece
“The great, the good, throughout the land,
Extol the deeds we’ve done,
And call us to complete the work
We’ve gallantly begun.”
John Lentell of Hunter’s Lodge
February 20th, 1968
Lentell Soup 